[Husker] NU-Ok (fwd)

[Steve Reichenbach]

> I am not advocating any drastic changes this year (not even at DC), though 
> Callahan will probably join Houston Nutt and possibly Dave Wannstedt on 
> the media's 'bubble list'.  However, as I've said before (and the pundits in
> the media apparently don't understand this), all indications are that 
> Callahan still has the full support of the only person whose opinion 
> matters, and since dumping Callahan this quickly would in effect repudiate 
> the very reason he was hired, he's got 2-3 more years to get the Huskers
> back up to 9+ win territory before the other powers that be start flexing 
> their muscles.  
> --
> Mike Nolan

I agree completely with this assessment, but two more years isn't very
long.  If NU loses five of its last seven this year and shows little
improvement next year, I think Pederson will find another job after the
2006 football season.  That is a little more than a year from now.

First, I think the fund raising is going not so well and that many people
have told the University that when Pederson goes they will contribute
again.  The pleas for donations at the football game seem increasingly
desperate.  That might not matter if the football program hadn't
completed the slide to mediocrity last year and this, because success
cures lots of disputes, but that is the way things are.  Pederson is
still a problem for many Husker fans and that doesn't help fundraising.

Second, I think that if Callahan isn't proving to be the coach to put
NU back in the BCS picture in the near future, then Pederson isn't going
to get a chance to make another hire.  Bringing in a new AD would be a
step to be able to make a change after the 2007 season if things aren't
going well --- both football and fundraising.

I'd be glad to see Pederson go regardless of what happens with the
football program.  I think he made the decision to fire Solich with his
ego when Solich didn't leave the ground when he said jump.  It was a
huge risk with something very important to the University and the State
(a bet that isn't going so well right now) --- because of his ego.